NASA will soon train Indian astronauts for joint ISS mission: Garcetti

National Aeronautics and Space Administration will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station, a top American diplomat said Friday 24 May.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti made these remarks while speaking at the "US-India Commercial Space Conference: Unlocking Opportunities for US & Indian Space Startups," hosted by the US-India Business Council and the US Commercial Service in Bangalore.

NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts, with the goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station, hopefully, this year or shortly thereafter, which was one of the promises of our leaders' visit together. And soon we will launch the NISAR satellite from ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center to monitor all resources, including ecosystems, the Earth's surface, natural hazards, sea level rise, and the cryosphere," Garcetti said, according to a USIBC press statement issued in Washington, DC.

You see whether it's the pursuit of peace and the peaceful use of space, things like the Artemis Accord, we are hand in hand, arm in arm. When it comes to prosperity and jobs, which is a big part of this conference today, it can be produced by startups in this sector, good-paying, high-tech jobs for Indians and Americans. Space is right there," Garcetti said.

The day-long event in Bengaluru garnered participation from senior officials from both the US and Indian governments, including Garcetti, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman Dr Somanath S, representatives from the NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the government of India, as well as prominent leaders from the commercial space industry, industry stakeholders, venture capitalists, and market analysts.